Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1887-03-05
GOVERNOR TAYLOR AND THE
DEMOCRACY

Intimately for mankind the truth of
this sarcasm is too often verified. All
sects, associations, cliques and parties
prove it. Just now our own dear
patriotic "unterrified" Democracy of
Tennessee presents much-to-be-re-
GREETED illustration of it, and of how
rapidly the fell spirit will spread
when once enkindled. But little over
one month ago Robert l.. Taylor was
inaugurated Governor amidst the
wild acclaims of an admiring con-
stituency, and he is already assailed
by criticisms, censures, and denuncia-
tions. Hot passions have begun to
burn and blaze out, affording to
thoughtful Democrats just ground
for anxiety. AS faithful sentinel on
the watch tower of Democracy we
are impelled by sense of duty to ut
ter warning cry. Recent as is the
origin of this controversy it bears in
its bosom the menace of another split,
which is already being watched with
the keenest relish by the Republican
party. Surely the deep humiliation
of former defeat by internal dissen-
sion is not so soon forgotten; surely
no true Democrat wishes again to feel
the tread of Republican heels upon his
neck.
Gov. Taylor is charged with hav-
ing changed his position upon the
subject of Federal aid to the States for
educational purposes, and upon the
Blair Bill, proposed measure to
grant Federal aid. This is a clear
statement of the points of the charges,
Invested of all eXtraneOus matter. Is
he guilty Of having deceived the peo-
pie who trusted and honored him, on
either of these subjects, or has ne dealt
openly and honestly with them in
giving his views and stating his po-
sitions? To put it more simply, has
he been Inconsistent" as charged
Passion, nor prejudice, nor friend.
ship, nor hate, should answer the
question. Only dispassionate reason
and justice can so conduct the inquiry
as to lead us to correct answer. In
this spirit, for the good of the Demo
cratic party which we love, we lay
before our readers the facts involved
and our deliberate conclusions drawn
from them.
The charge of Inconsistency" is
sought to be sustained by some O
Gov. Taylor's accusers, by relying up
on the Democratic platforms, State
and National, on which he was elect
ed. AS neither the one or the othel
platform names "the Blair bill' o.
Federal aid" for educational purpos
es, this mode of proof resolves itsel
into a matter of mere construction
and inference as to their meaning
, and should not be resorted to in al
honest inquiry after the truth ifmor
+ direct and positive evidence is befor
us. On this point it. is suffi
cient to say that nomi
+ mated and placed on the platforms b.
a the Democracy, Gov. Taylor, in hi
D letter of acceptance and the position
he assumed in the canvass, placed be
fore his party his construction of then
, both, and was sustained by 1860
Democratic votes, and it does seer
now little late to raise questions O
, the platforms. The true question
q are, what were Gov. Taylor's avowe
9 positions on the Blair bill and o
;, Federal aid? and has he changed
: In determining these questions W
~ believe the most sensible and satisfat
, tory method is to see just what pos
y tons he actually took on these ident
~ cal questions in his letter aceeptin
the nomination, in his canvass, and i
q his recent message to the Legislator,
=, If they are not consistent" tn
charge is sustained; if they are,
, falls to the ground. Now to the re-
- ord. Here is what Gov. Taylor sal
- about education and Federal aid in h
70 letter accepting the nomination ft
Governor:
81 favor most positively and earl
estly system universal free educ
ton, and believe that such a systel
= can be best established and carrie
out through the sale of our immen'
public domain"
e. In his canvass he opposed the Bla
bill as an Objectionable means
ne granting Federal aid on two ground
p First, that it falsely assumed the
was in the Federal treasury surpll
he of money not applicable to the pa
III ment of the public debt, and secon
because it gave the Federal Cover
he ment supervisory powers over Sta